Northwest Coast Native Americans

The
Northwest Coast Native American cultural area
extends along the coast from southern Alaska,
Washington and Oregon and
down the Canadian province of British Columbia to
the northern edge of California as shown on the map.

Learn
about the life of the people of the Northwest Coast Native Americans. Discover
facts and information about the natural resources
available, the languages, culture, clothing, their
religion, beliefs and ceremonies.

Culture of the Northwest Coast Americans
The
way of life of the Northwest Coast Native Americans Indians was dictated by
climate, land, natural raw materials available
and the animals, fish, birds, plants, nuts,
berries and trees. This was a plentiful area
consisting of forests, rivers and oceans and
runs along the Pacific Ocean coast from southern
Alaska to Washington state.

Their subsistence
of the tribes was related
to agriculture and hunting. The natural
resources and materials available provided the
food and the clothing of the Northwest Coast Native Americans. The weather
and the changing seasons also affected their way
of life at different times of the year.

Their
language, weapons, trading currencies, beliefs,
ceremonies and religions were also important
elements of their way of life. The Northwest Coast Native Americans who
lived on the borders of lands often reflected
two types of lifestyles.

Map showing location of
Northwest Coast Cultural Group

Northwest Coast Native Americans - Lifestyle (Way of Living)
The climate, land and natural resources that
were available to the Indian tribes resulted
in the adoption of the Northwest Coast Native Americans culture.

The Native Indians who lived on the borders
of lands often reflected two different types
of lifestyles.

Northwest Native Americans - Location
The mild climate, fertile land and a large variety
of natural resources that were available to
the Indian tribes resulted in the adoption
of the hunter fisher culture shared by the
Northwest Coast Native Americans along the
Pacific coast from British Columbia to the
top of Northern California. The Northwest
Coast culture area is 1,500 miles long and
about fifty miles wide. The location of the
Northwest Native Americans consists
primarily of the coastal areas of Oregon,
Washington, Southeast Alaska and British
Columbia. The area also includes many
islands, the most important being Vancouver
Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Northwest Indians - Other Tribes of the
Northwest
The other tribes of the Northwest Indians
known to inhabit the area were the Calapuya, Chehalis, Chastacosta,
Chelamela, Clallam, Clatsop, Kuitsh, Lummi,
Nooksack, Snake, Tillamook, Willapa
and Yamel.

Northwest Native Americans - Lifestyle (Way of Living)This section on
Northwest Coast Native Americans group
provides facts and information about their
languages, the Geography and Environment.
The animals and the Plants, Trees and Crops
provided their food, clothing, shelter and
decorations. Their Houses, Shelters and
Homes depended on the materials available to
them and whether the home was permanent or
temporary but the most usual type of
accommodation was the Plankhouse. There are also facts and info
about the Religion, Ceremonies and Beliefs
of the Northwest Coast Native Americans
group. Tribes included those who spoke the Athapaskan language including the Haida and
Tlingit and those who spoke the Penutian
language including the Chinook and the Coos.

Northwest Native Americans - Animals
and Fish
The animals were very important to the Northwest Coast Native Americans.
There was a variety of many different
animals including mountain goats and sheep,
deer, moose, bear and elk. Fish and Sea animals
including seals, whales, salmon and shell fish. The uses of the animals were varied and
included food, clothing, shelter and
decorations. Dogs were the only domesticated
animals and they were used to pull dog sleds.

Northwest Native Americans - Houses, Shelters and Homes
The different types of Houses, Shelters and
Homes depended on the materials available
and whether the home was permanent or
temporary. The homes of the Northwest Coast
Indians included Plankhouses. Plank Houses
were common and
were
permanent houses built as homes by the fishing
tribes of the Northwest Coast, such as the
Chinooks. Plank houses are made from long, flat
planks of cedar wood lashed to a wooden frame
and made good houses for people in cold climates
who lived in areas with lots of tall trees.

Picture of a Chinook Plankhouse

Northwest Native Americans - Religion, Ceremonies and Beliefs
The Religion, Ceremonies and Beliefs were
based on
Totemism and
Animism. Animism was a commonly
shared doctrine, or belief, of the
indigenous people of North America and
Canada including the Northwest Coast Native
American tribes. Animism is based on the
spiritual or religious idea that the
universe and all natural objects have souls
or spirits. In this religion it is believed
that souls or spirits exist not only in
humans but also in animals, plants, trees,
rocks etc. This belief is also extended to
natural phenomena such as thunder storms and
rain and geographic features such as
mountains, caves or rivers also possess
souls or spirits. The famous customs and
traditions of these people included the use of Totem Poles and
the
Potlatch ceremony which often featured masked dancers.
Tricksters feature in the legends and mythology
of the Northwest peoples as do heroic figures or
"transformers" who transform, or change, the
world into its present state. There are also
many legends about the Clans.

Northwest Native Americans - Potlatch
The along the north-west coast there existed
the curious custom known as potlatch. A
Potlatch
is an opulent ceremonial feast held by some
Indians of the northwestern coast of North
America to celebrate a great occasion such as a
marriage or birth. The host of the Potlatch
gives gifts to tribesmen and others to display
his superior wealth. Personal property is also
destroyed in another show of wealth and
generosity. Those who gave away or destroyed the
most property earned the greatest social
prestige. Potlatch is a way for people to share
their wealth with the community, to strengthen
their leadership claims and to earn the respect
of the tribe. In accordance with this custom a
man might save for half a lifetime in order to
acquire the rank of chief by finally giving away
his entire goods and belongings at a grand
public feast.

Northwest Native Americans - Totem
PolesTotem poles
were important to the
North Coast Native Americans. Family history
was visually displayed outside the home of
every Native Indian via a Totem Pole. Totem poles
were made of logs which were carved with
various symbols including animals, plants,
birds, and religious spirits.

Northwest Indians - Physical
Characteristics
The physical characteristics of Northwest
Coast Indians are dark brown eyes,
prominent cheek bones, straight black hair,
and scantiness of beard. The skin color of
Native Indians varies from very light in
some tribes such as the Cheyenne, to almost
black in others, such as the Caddo and a
yellowish color in such as the Flatheads.

Northwest Native Americans - Languages
The languages of the Northwest Coast Native Americans included
Chinookan, Athapaskan and Penutian languages.
Penutian encompassed a large division of
languages spoken in the Pacific northwest,
near the Columbia River basin, including
Chinookan, Tsimshianic and Utian.

Northwest Native Americans - Geography and Environment
The Northwest area includes the States of
Oregon and Washington.
The Geography and Environment can be
generally described as a region with heavy
rainfall, tall dense forests, oceans,
mountains and rivers. All the Native
Americans lived near the water, either the
Pacific Ocean or an inland river or lake,
and relied heavily on water for their
survival. A combination of the cedar tree
forests and salmon filled rivers provided a
good living in an area which was rich in
natural resources.

Pictures and Videos of Northwest Coast Native Americans
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